How to Treat an Ingrown Nail Quiz

Humans evolving to walk upright on two feet may seem like a terrible idea when you're suffering from (and oh, how you suffer) an ingrown toenail. It's a tiny area of affliction to cause so much pain, but the discomfort can't be denied. How do we get from healthy feet to red, swollen toes? Take off your shoes and test your smarts on keeping your toes happy from here on out.

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Question 1 of 10

What is one of the main causes of ingrown toenails?

Pedicures

The wrong socks

Shoes that don't fit

Ingrown toenails are one of the most common side effects of picking footwear that doesn't really fit your feet.

After you've treated an ingrown toenail, you should steer clear of what type of shoe?

Rounded toe

Pointed toe

You'll probably need to go barefoot -- or at least bare-toed -- for a few days to give the nail time to heal. After the nail heals, wear shoes that have rounded edges -- pointed shoes can scrunch your toes and encourage another ingrown toenail.

Boxy toe

Question 6 of 10

What medicine cabinet staple can help treat an ingrown toenail?

Dental floss

If the nail isn't infected, one of the most common and effective home remedies is to take a cotton ball or some waxed dental floss and place it under the nail. This separates the nail from the skin into which it's growing.

Toothpaste

Contact solution

Question 7 of 10

What's a common, in-office medical treatment for ingrown toenails?

Cryotherapy

Dermabrasion

Full or partial nail removal

A doctor will typically remove the nail only partially. Removing the entire nail may enable it to grow back in the same distorted shape, but partial nail removal will prevent the ingrown part of the nail from coming back.

Question 8 of 10

People with what medical condition are more prone to complications with ingrown toenails?

Psoriasis

Diabetes

Diabetes can damage your nerves, making it more difficult to recognize a foot injury, and if an injury is left untreated, it can become infected. An infection is more problematic for people with diabetes because the disease hinders the body's ability to fight infection.

Asthma

Question 9 of 10

An untreated ingrown toenail may infect:

Bone

An untreated ingrown toenail may begin to infect the bone that lies beneath it, which can lead to a serious bone infection.

Your fingernails

Other people

Question 10 of 10

How should an infected ingrown toenail be treated?

With antibiotics

A physician can prescribe topical or oral antibiotics to fight the infection. At home, you can soak your toes in soapy water or salt water and then apply an antiseptic and a sterile bandage.